NEEDS: With an abundance of returning talent from a team that won 10 games last season, coach Ruffin McNeill has few immediate needs other than deepening the talent pool and becoming bigger, stronger and faster in anticipation of the Pirates’ upgrade to the America Athletic Conference. The one position that could use some help is running back, where Vintavious Cooper has graduated and his backup Breon Allen is a rising senior. ECU could also use another quarterback in the program to provide depth and options once incumbent Shane Carden leaves after next season. Defensively, the secondary is in need of the most help while on special teams, the Pirates will be looking for both a new kicker and a new punter in the fall.

EARLY ENROLLEES: Heading the list of the Pirates’ four early enrollees is former New Hanover High star Trevon Brown, who originally signed last year but was unable to play in 2013 because his high school transcript was submitted to the NCAA’s Clearinghouse after the April 20th deadline. Joining him at ECU are fellow wide receiver Curtis Burston, along with defensive backs Cody Purdie and Blake Norwood.

ONES THAT GOT AWAY: McNeill had some awful luck when it came to quarterbacks this recruiting season. First, he got a verbal commitment from three-star prospect John Wolford, but the Jacksonville native abruptly flipped and re-committed to Wake Forest shortly after new coach Dave Clawson took over the Deacons. Undaunted, McNeill went out and got himself another three-star heir apparent to rising senior Carden in Shawn Stankavage of Raleigh’s Cardinal Gibbons High. Only a week later, though, Stankavage changed his mind and decided to sign with Vanderbilt, leaving the Pirates without a quarterback in this year’s class.

OBSERVATIONS: This was an important recruiting class for McNeill, not because of its impact on the upcoming 2014 season – the Pirates already have an abundance of talent returning from last year’s 10-win team – but because of the upgrades that will be necessary down the road with the move from Conference USA to the America Athletic Conference. McNeill succeeded in doing that by loading up on offensive linemen, linebackers and wide receivers, including 2013 signee and New Hanover High graduate Trevon Brown. ECU also got two late bonuses that will provide immediate help in key areas of need when speedy three-star running back Anthony Scott chose the Pirates over Virginia Tech and JUCO transfer offensive guard Quincy McKinney was an 11th hour flip from Louisville. Also providing immediate on an offensive line that loses three starters is another JUCO, three-star prospect Donte Levingston. If there is big disappointment in this year’s class it’s that McNeill failed to land an heir apparent to quarterback Shane Carden despite having gained verbal commitments from not one, but two signal callers during in the months leading up to signing day.